NEWSLETTER
Riverhead, NY – Alive on 25 [AO25], downtown Riverhead’s largest and most anticipated event, is marking its fifth anniversary of annually hosting four evenings of summer fun on Main Street.
AO25 is a free walkable street festival featuring live music on multiple stages, local craft beverages, food trucks, street dining, vendors, local artisans, face painters, stilt walkers, jugglers and activities the whole family can enjoy. A move to Friday evenings is planned for 2022, kicking off July 1st with fireworks at 9PM. Three events will follow on July 15th, July 29th and August 12 (rain date August 19th). All events run from 5-9:30pm.
(2016) AO25 began as a dedicated initiative of the Riverhead BID in hopes of growing the downtown district and connecting with the community. By utilizing creative placemaking strategies, the BID has proven much success in stimulating economic growth while also providing many benefits for visitors, residents and historic downtown. (2020) Due to Covid limitations, AO25 was reinvented by BID executive director, Kristy Verity and President, Steven Shauger into ‘Dine on 25,’ a safer alternative allowing downtown restaurants and breweries to serve seated diners on Main Street. (2021) When Covid restrictions lifted, AO25 reemerged as Long Island’s first returning large-scale event. Neighboring town committees called on the Riverhead BID to guest speak and offer guidance on reopening and operations.
“For the past two years, Steven and I have curated downtown events around twists and turns of all kinds. Last year, with revised operations and a safety plan in hand, we managed to pull off Alive on 25 in record time. The feedback was unbelievably positive and we saw the largest turnout to date,” Kristy Verity. “The BID was dubbed a “pioneer of renewal” by local and regional officials, a total game-changer for the organization and community.”
2022 changes to the festival include the move from Thursdays to Fridays; street closure at McDermott Ave creating a bypass for vehicles along Heidi Behr Way (Peconic riverfront); no-smoking within event zone (tobacco, marijuana, vaping); East End Arts youth rock band performances; Gel Blaster and fun zone at East End Arts campus; car show at all four events; Team Fun after-dark LED circus performers.
“I’m really excited to see Alive on 25 evolve into more of a community-driven event. Local groups such as the library, nonprofits, East End Arts, LI Science Center and Girl Scouts will be offering free activities to families. More downtown businesses are getting involved and doing fun things; like the tattoo shop doing full sleeve temporary tattoos and the soon to open selfie studio hosting a themed photo station. Robert James Salon and Privet Warehouse have volunteered to help the BID with setup. Everyone has been so positive and it’s great to see Riverhead blooming as an inclusive town, but staying true to its roots as it grows.”
CRAFT BEER, WINE, CIDER VENDORS: Tradewinds Brewing Company; Diggers Ales & Eats; Craft’d; Ubergeek Brewing; Long Ireland Beer Company; Twin Fork Beer Co.
PECONIC AVENUE SCHEDULE
5-8PM Car Show on 7/1 LI Antique Power Association (tractors); 7/15 Riverhead Raceway; 7/29 vintage cars; 8/12 Riverhead drag race cars
8PM on 7/15, 7/29, 8/12 After-dark led circus performances
9PM on 7/1 Fireworks by Santore’s World Famous Fireworks
Peconic Bay Medical Center has returned for its second year as title sponsor. Additional 2022 sponsors and partners are: G2D Group; Race Track Not Street; Long Island Needs a Drag Strip; Woolworth Apartments; Riverhead Building Supply; Peoples United, M&T Bank; Vee Media; Hyatt East End; Privet Consignment Warehouse; East End Arts; Robert James Salon; Town of Riverhead.
Riverhead Business Improvement District (BID)’s mission is to expand sustainable economic activity in historic downtown Riverhead, New York, create and expand business, and develop jobs for community residents. Riverhead BID [downtownriverhead.org] is a non-profit special tax district management association fostering downtown revitalization and economic development. For more information call 631.440.1350 or email hello@downtownriverhead.org f./@downtownriverheadbid i./ @downtownriverhead
Located in Riverhead, NY, Peconic Bay Medical Center is a 200-bed nonprofit hospital committed to providing exceptional care and improving the health of the communities it serves. Peconic Bay Medical Center offers wide-ranging, full-scope services and programs, including advanced surgical, cardiac, orthopedic and women’s health care, comprehensive inpatient medical care, palliative care and an extensive range of outpatient services, along with state-of-art technology. Peconic Bay Medical Center joined Northwell Health in 2016. For more information, visit PBMCHealth.org and follow us @PeconicBayMedicalCenter on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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Alive on 25
https://www.downtownriverhead.org/alive-on-25
Riverhead Business Improvement District
https://www.downtownriverhead.org/